Behind the Wheel How Albert Vidaud Goes Above and Beyond
When it comes to food, a lot of focus is placed on the kitchen. That’s where the meals are prepared, after all. But at October Kitchen, many of our customers rely on our delivery services just as much as they rely on our kitchen. This month, we want to highlight our senior driver, Albert Vidaud, for all the amazing work he does.
shows up with a smile and a story to tell. And if he can help beyond unpacking food, he’ll do so in a heartbeat. Once, Al was delivering food as a bereavement gift to a young widow who’d lost her husband while on vacation in Puerto Rico. When Al arrived and began to unpack the food, the woman was on the phone struggling to
reclaim her late husband’s body from the authorities in Puerto Rico. The language barrier was clearly an issue, so Al, who happens to be fluent in Spanish, volunteered to help. He got on the phone and was able to get everything straightened out. “I couldn’t do more to help this woman after such a terrible loss, but I was able to help her deal with one less hurdle. That day was a reminder that this job is about more than delivering food.” Al truly lives up to October Kitchen’s mission of nourishing people beyond merely providing healthy meals. October Kitchen strives to nourish people’s spirits, which is something an uplifting gentleman like Al is able to do with every
The way Al tells the story, how he came to October Kitchen was an act of pure serendipity. “In 2013, after I’d been retired for a few years, my wife and I were driving back up from Florida,” Al begins. “Rebecca looked at me from the driver’s seat and said, ‘Maybe we should get you a job to get you out of the house and help with the budget.’ I was taken aback, but I promised I’d look for a part-time job when we got back home. I never had the chance. During that same drive, I got a call from Chef Paul’s mother. I had been her mailman for years. She told
person he meets. Next time you see Al, be sure to ask him about one of his adventures — like meeting Forrest Gump down in Savannah. He always has a great story to share.
me that October Kitchen was looking for drivers and asked if I would be interested. I got off the phone and told my wife I had a job.” Albert Vidaud is an Air Force veteran who served in Vietnam and spent 40 years on the job as a mailman before he retired. When he started at October Kitchen, Al already had plenty of experience behind the wheel. Of course, delivering food is very different than delivering mail. “When I was a mailman, I must have heard people say, ‘Don’t bring me anymore bills,’ a hundred times a month,” Al says. “Since joining October Kitchen, no one has ever said, ‘Don’t bring me any more food.’ It’s great to have people always look forward to seeing me!” Delivering food isn’t the only reason people are happy to see Al. He’s a genuinely bright, optimistic guy. Al always
2 OctoberKitchen.com
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